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Richard Steele

Born

in Barthomley, Cheshire

May 10, 1629

Died

November 16, 1692

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Richard Steele (Steel) (1629-1692), nonconformist divine, son of Robert Steele, farmer, was born at Barthomley, Cheshire, on 10 May 1629. He was educated at Northwich grammar school, admitted sizar at St. John’s College, Cambridge, on 1 April 1642, and incorporated M.A. at Oxford on 5 July 1656. He succeeded Thomas Porter as rector of Hanmer, Flintshire, probably in 1650. Henry Newcome visited him there on 10 June 1654. He was a member of the fourth Shropshire classis (constituted by parliament in April 1647), and, as such, was one of the ordainers of Philip Henry [q. v.] on 16 Sept. 1657. Thirty years later (9 May 1687) he was one of the ordainers, at his own house in London, of Philip Henry’s son, Matthew Henry [q. v.] In September 1660 h Richard Steele (Steel) (1629-1692), nonconformist divine, son of Robert Steele, farmer, was born at Barthomley, Cheshire, on 10 May 1629. He was educated at Northwich grammar school, admitted sizar at St. John’s College, Cambridge, on 1 April 1642, and incorporated M.A. at Oxford on 5 July 1656. He succeeded Thomas Porter as rector of Hanmer, Flintshire, probably in 1650. Henry Newcome visited him there on 10 June 1654. He was a member of the fourth Shropshire classis (constituted by parliament in April 1647), and, as such, was one of the ordainers of Philip Henry [q. v.] on 16 Sept. 1657. Thirty years later (9 May 1687) he was one of the ordainers, at his own house in London, of Philip Henry’s son, Matthew Henry [q. v.] In September 1660 he was presented at Flint assizes for not reading the common prayer; the prosecution fell through, owing to Charles it’s declaration in October. He was again presented at the spring assizes on 28 March 1661 at Hawarden. He resigned his living in consequence of the Uniformity Act of 1662, preaching a farewell sermon (17 Aug.), in which he said he was ejected for not subscribing his assent to the new prayer-book, which he had not yet seen. He continued to communicate at Hanmer, where he received ‘sitting’ on 19 April 1663. On 25 July he was presented for baptising his own children, and in October was arrested on suspicion of treason. Early in 1665 he was made collector for Hanmer of the ‘royal aid,’ the point being to treat him as a layman. In April 1665 he was again arrested, as he was setting out for London; his pocket diary was taken from him, and passages were misconstrued. An entry of an appointment “on a carnal account” was “interpreted to be some woman design.” Philip Henry records “’a great noise in the country concerning Mr. Steel’s almanack.” The Five Miles Act, coming into force on 25 March 1666, compelled him to leave Hanmer, and he took up his residence in London. Urwick conjectures (Nonconformity in Cheshire, 1864, p. xlix) that his was the license granted on 10 June 1672 for presbyterian preaching in “the house of Rob. Steele” at Barthomley, Cheshire; he certainly contributed to the building of a school at Barthomley in 1675. Though he may have made occasional visits to the north, Philip Henry’s diary shows that he was constantly exercising his ministry in London from 1671. He gathered a morning congregation at Armourers’ Hall, Coleman Street; in the afternoon he preached at Hoxton. He died on 16 Nov. 1692. George Hamond, his colleague and successor, preached his funeral sermon. He had ten sons, five of whom were dead in 1672. His portrait is in Dr. Williams’s Library; an engraving from it by Hopwood is given in Wilson.

[Funeral Sermon by Hamond, 1693: Calamy’s Account. 1713, p. 708; Calamy’s Continuation, 1727, ii. 835; Wilson’s Dissenting Churches of London. 1808, ii. 448 sq.; Williams’s Life of Philip Henry, 1825, passim; Lee’s Diaries and Letters of Philip Henry, 1882, passim; Mayor’s Admissions to St. John’s, Cambridge, 1882, i. 63.] A. G. ...more

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Average rating: 4.14 · 72 ratings · 19 reviews · 4 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Character of an Upright Man really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 23 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Remedy for Wandering Thoughts in Worship 4.20 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 1835 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Religious Tradesman; or Plain and Serious Hints of Advice 4.16 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 1989 — 32 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Duties of Husbands and Wives by Richard Steele, D. Scott Meadows (Editor) 4.31 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by Richard Steele (?)

“If you are Christians in truth, you have enough to shame all discontent. You have the perfections of God; the unsearchable riches of Christ: the influences of the holy Spirit of God: an interest in the promises of the gospel; the divine image on your own souls; the infallible assurance of all needful good here; and the hope and prospect of consummate blessedness in the life to come, to be your portion and happiness.”
― Richard Steele, The Religious Tradesman: Wisdom for Christian Businessmen

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“And let it be your fixed purpose, by the grace of God, that though you may not be very rich, yet you will be always very just. This is the way to a quiet conscience, and a firm estate; you may then enjoy with pleasure, and leave with comfort to your posterity, whatever acquisitions a diligent hand, and a good God has offered you. To which end. 1. Let the fear of God rule in your hearts. Fear of shame may restrain men from many instances of injustice, but nothing less than the religious fear of God, will make them universally just and honest. 2. Conquer your undue love to the world. A covetous and selfish temper is the grand spring of all injustice and oppression. Men would never expose themselves to the anger of God, injure their neighbours, and hazard their reputation for a little gain, if their love to it was not excessive and criminal. 3. Learn contentment in your present state, and trust in God for futurity. His providence overrules and directs all the conditions of his creatures. He knows what things we have need of, and what would be hurtful to us, and will be sure to secure the best good to those who place their confidence in Him.”
― Richard Steele, The Religious Tradesman

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“Justice will excite the tradesman (if in such relations in life) to make due provision for his wife and children. The wife brought a considerable portion, in prospect of a comfortable provision; or else hath been useful in the shop or the family, to preserve or increase your estate, and govern and inspect the affairs of the household; or, however, she is bone of your bone, and flesh of your flesh, and hath forsaken her parents and friends, to cast herself upon your love and care: you are bound, therefore, by all sacred and humane ties, to secure her comfort, so far as lies in your power. Your children are parts of yourself, whom you brought into the world in an helpless and dependent state; it is unnatural and unjust not to support and provide for them: yet such is the idleness and negligence, such the prodigality and voluptuousness, of many tradesmen, that misery and tears are the only inheritance they leave to their distressed families. The goods are appraised, but they are few or unsaleable; the books are examined, but no comfort is to be found from them; the poor wife is forced to live upon her friends, or pine away in want; and the children to wander desolate and forsaken. O wretched injustice! Can the posterity of such men rise up and call them blessed, who make them heirs to nothing but poverty and distress? Or will it excuse them that they have been just to others, who are thus cruel to their own flesh? No. Limit yourselves in the expenses of dress, diet and furniture; allow yourselves in no unreasonable or costly pleasures; be diligent in your callings, and prudent in your concerns; that you may leave your families above the charity of their friends, and enable them to live when your period of life ceases; that your exit may not be like the brutes, who have no concern for the offspring they leave behind them. “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endureth for ever.”
― Richard Steele, The Religious Tradesman

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Richard Steele’s Followers (1)

Richard Steele

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